Frustrated that their demands for renegotiated reimbursement rates have not been met, local pharmacists say cuts in payment for prescriptions through the Gold Coast Health Plan continue to cripple them.

After months of complaints from independent pharmacists over reimbursement provided by Gold Coast’s contracted partner, OptumRx, governing commissioners told staff in early December to find consultants who can analyze the rates. Gold Coast is the publicly funded entity that administers Medi-Cal health insurance for nearly 200,000 low-income Ventura County residents.

Pharmacists said the rates fell dramatically in the summer when OptumRx, part of the UnitedHealth Group, launched its program as Gold Coast’s new pharmacy benefit manager. They say the new rates in some cases don’t cover the cost of medications and could force many stores out of business.

On Monday, Gold Coast staff told the governing board — the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission — that Excelsior Solutions had been hired as a consultant but said a report wouldn’t be ready until March.

Gold Coast Pharmacy Director Dr. Anne Freese said the timetable was dictated by the time needed to find a consultant and put out requests for bids in a timeframe cut short by holidays. She also cited the time needed to collect and analyze data.

Pharmacists who expected the analysis to be ready Monday said the wait means they’ll lose more money.

“How long can you bleed?” asked Kent Miles, a retired Simi Valley pharmacist.

Miles’ daughter, April, owns OMAC Pharmacy in Oxnard. She said the lowered rates forced her to take a business loan to keep her store open.

“I just hope they fix this,” she said of the rates.

Drew Krejci, spokesman for OptumRx, said Tuesday that the company works with a broad network of pharmacies to make sure people have access to affordable medication.

“Our reimbursements are in line with industry standards,” he said in a written statement.

Commissioners voiced frustration at the March timetable for a report from consultants. Commission chair Darren Lee instructed staff to push hard for at least a preliminary report in time for the commission’s February meeting.

“This has been going on for a long time,” he said. “... I think we should be addressing this issues with a real sense of urgency.”

Pharmacists have said that OptumRx has refused to renegotiate, instead noting pharmacies already have binding contracts with them through intermediaries known as pharmacy services administration organizations. Gold Coast leaders have noted the plan faced financial penalties from the state before OptumRx became pharmacy benefit manager because reimbursement rates were deemed to be too high.

Daniel Martinez, government relations manager for the California Pharmacists Association, urged the commission to start a 90-day process to terminate its contract with OptumRX. He cited a California law that requires pharmacy benefit managers to make their maximum allowable costs available to pharmacists upon request in a readily accessible format.

That is not happening with OptumRX, Martinez said, claiming the alleged violation gives the commission an opening to end the contract. He also said that many pharmacists reported they learned Tuesday their maximum allowed reimbursements had been reduced again.

Krejci said OptumRx follows state law and makes the MAC list available when requested.

Commissioners asked staff for more information about MAC practices. They also asked for more information on claims OptumRX is paying at rates far less than the amount the California Department of Health Care Services provides for prescriptions from small independent pharmacies serving Medi-Cal patients.